White-spotted Munia
Mayrimunia leucosticta
A small brown bird with a heavy blue bill, rufous underparts, and white spotting across the head, back, and breast. The pale buff rump is conspicuous in flight. Found in tall grassland, bamboo, savanna, and forest edges, often in pairs or small flocks. The calls are metallic “veek” and “vik” notes. The song is a fast, high-pitched metallic jumble of notes. Similar to Streak-headed Munia but paler overall, especially on the underparts, and shows large white spots across the back. Somewhat similar to Black Mannikin, but paler, with abundant white spotting.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Mayrimunia leucosticta
- Authority
- (D'Albertis & Salvadori, 1879)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Mayrimunia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Lesser Hoopoe-Lark
Alaemon hamertoni
A slender, rangy lark resembling a stretched pipit, with long pale legs, a long slender dark bill, and a long dark tail. Plainly plumaged and mostly unmarked except for diffuse breast streaking. Upperpart coloration varies geographically from gray-brown to rusty. Endemic to Somalia, where pairs are resident in arid grassland, avoiding areas with scrub. Stands upright and runs swiftly on long legs. Vocalizations undescribed. Lesser Hoopoe-Lark is plainer and paler than Somali Lark, and Greater Hoopoe-Lark is larger with bold markings on the face and wings.
Rufous Woodpecker
Micropternus brachyurus
Odd medium-sized brownish woodpecker with a short dark bill. Overall coloration and wing markings vary considerably across a wide range. Males have a red patch under the eye. Gives a range of loud, insistent calls, including a sharp “weep weep weep!” Distinctive drum accelerates then trails off. Forages throughout the levels of the forest, often with mixed-species flocks. Frequently drills into ant nests.
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Smaller than all the gulls, with thinner and more pointed bill. Distinguished from other terns by pale whitish wings and orange-based bill in summer, and isolated black ear patch in winter. Forages by circling and hovering over bays, ponds, and lakes, then dropping to snatch fish. Often rests on sandbars, piers, and other structures with other gull and tern species. Snappy, quick wingbeats and acrobatic in flight.
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